Train Announcements
I was coming back this morning on the Overground and got these two announcements.
The Next Station is Wapping
and
This Station is Wapping
It looked fairly small to me.
Perhaps they should think more carefully about station names.
London Overground Completes The Circle
I like this poster.
London Overground Completes The Circle
But at least they’re confirming the start date of December 9th.
Who’d Want To Live In Chelsea?
I wanted to go to a shop called Mr.Resistor in Parson’s Green. Hopefully, they’d be able to provide me with lights that solved my lighting problems. Sadly the light that might have solved the problem was out of stock, so I decided to come home. I had gone by taking a bus to Liverpool Street station, then the Central line to Notting Hill station for the District line to my destination, which was close to Parson’s Green station. The problem had been the bus, as all of the traffic in the City was gridlocked. Possibly because of the Crossrail works.
So instead of retracing my steps, I thought about getting a bus to perhaps South Kensington, where I could get some lunch at Carluccio’s. I really don’t like taking pot luck in an area I don’t know, as getting glutened isn’t fun! I did find a bus stop, with a choice of just one bus; a 22 to Piccadilly Circus. At least it was going in the right direction, but then it got stuck in traffic, due to all the tractors and white vans. Kingsland High Street may not have the glamour of the King’s Road, but at least the traffic keeps moving. In the end, I dived into the Piccadilly line at Knightsbridge station and took a train to Holborn, where I got a friendly 38 bus to the Angel. I just had time to grab my supper and some sandwiches from Marks and Spencer before I had to come home to catch an appointment.
Chelsea may have advantages, but I certainly didn’t see any today. Get past Piccadilly Circus and the traffic frees up, you’ve got the Underground and lots more bus routes. But then I suppose those in Chelsea and the surrounding areas of London don’t believe in public transport and clog up the roads with their tractors. It’s significant to me, that Kensington and Chelsea is one of the London boroughs in greatest opposition to the new London sewer. Could it be that the councillors are getting so many complaints about where to park during the construction?
On the other hand, this trip showed how Crossrail 2 or the Chelsea to Hackney line is badly needed. But do the residents of Chelsea want it constructed given the problems Crossrail is causing in the City. Parson’s Green station is incidentally pencilled in, as a station on the new line.
Next time, I go that way, I’ll take the Overground to West Brompton station and then change to the District line.
Dalston Junction to Clapham Junction Is Test Running
I got a train from Dalston Junction station and the service to Clapham Junction station is running from platform 2. Sadly without passengers. This is the destination display at Dalston Junction.
Dalston Junction to Clapham Junction Is Test Running
Not in Service is a euphemism for Clapham Junction. Note the fifteen minute service interval or four trains per hour.
Thank You, London Overground
That is the tone of this article to mark the fifth birthday of the London Overground in Time Out.
I think it shows if you bring in an urban transport system and design it properly, you completely enhance the lives of those it touches.
This country and the world in general needs more Overgrounds! Lots more!
The only problem with the Overground is that its success has meant too many people want to use it. But that is hopefully being solved by adding more and longer trains and the infrastructure to handle them.
With the opening of the new line to Clapham Junction in a few weeks time, I think we’ll see the popularity of the Overground grow.
The only problem with the Overground is that its success has meant too many people want to use it. But that is hopefully being solved by adding more and longer trains and the infrastructure to handle them.
The Overground Gets It Right
Everybody knocks the trains, but few knock the London Overground.
The Overground Gets It Right
But with figures like these, a lot of moans are tackled before they start. So the train i got this morning was crowded, but I got a seat at Whitechapel.
CrossRail Will Raise House Prices
Today’s Standard also reports that CrossRail will lead to house prices going up along its route.
Perhaps, this explains why no-one seems to be complaining about CrossRail.
Or have people noted what has happened to house prices around Dalston Junction station, after the coming of the Overground.
Back To London In Comfort
I came back to London in a Class 442, branded as a Gatwick Express, although it only stopped at East Croydon and Clapham Junction before Victoria.
Back To London In Comfort
The Class 442 could be considered an unusual design as it is just a series of legendary Mk. 3 coaches, with electric power underneath. They may be slower than an InterCity 125, but they still hold the world speed record for third-rail electric trains at 108 mph.
I took the train all the way to Victoria, but when London Overground opens to Clapham Junction on December 9th, I’ll be able to use that line to get to Dalston Junction.
I suspect, it will be whatever has the best connections.
To Brighton via Cable Car And A Lot More
And a few other things too!
I had plenty of time yesterday to get to the Ipswich match at Brighton, so I thought, I’d see how many different forms of transport I could use.
1. A 21 Bus to Bank
I started the simple way by getting on this 21 bus to take me to Bank station for the DLR.
A 21 Bus To Bank
It didn’t actually go to Bank, as southbound buses have to take a detour at Moorgate because of Crossrail.
2. Docklands Light Railway to Royal Victoria Docks
I then took the DLR to Royal Victoria Dock station for the cable-car.
DLR Train At Bank
I did take a pause at Limehouse station to take pictures of the Hydraulic Accumulator Tower.
3. Emirates Air-Line To North Greenwich
I’d actually come this way to give me a good title to the post. But, as I had a gondola to myself, I was able to take good pictures of the Crossrail site at Limmo.
The Crossrail Site On The Limmo Peninsular
Work seems to be proceeding at speed and hopefully Elizabeth and Victoria will be dropped in the big hole soon.
4. Jubilee Line To Canada Water
This was the point, I realised I hadn’t got an SD card in the camera, so I purchased one by the O2.
Jubilee Line At Canada Water
At least the Jubilee line was working properly.
5.Lift To The Overground
This might seem like blatant cheating to get my count up. It is!
Lift To The Overground
Although it was a nice clean lift!
6. Overground To West Croydon
Those who know London’s transport system can argue that I should have taken the Jubilee line to London Bridge station and got a train from there. But hey! That would not be fun.
Arriving At West Croydon
But even the Overground takes you to wrong station at Croydon for Brighton. But at least, West Croydon station now has a quick exit to the tram.
7. Tram To East Croydon
At least when you’re going West to East in Croydon, the Tramlink is simple.
Tram at East Croydon
In fact, if say I’m coming from Brighton to my home, I will probably go direct to the London terminus. But going south, I tend to take the Overground from close by my house and then the tram to East Croydon station, as I did here.
8. Train To Brighton
I bought my first ticket of the day. a senior return to Brighton for £11.70.
My Train To Brighton Arrives
I arrived in Brighton on time.
I then walked down the hill to Carluccio’s for an early supper.
The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Orange
The London Overground is starting to show its true colours and design philosophy. I took these pictures at Camden Road station today.
In some way the designs differ to those at Crystal Palace station, but then that station is a Grade 2 Listed building and bright orange would not have been an authentic choice.
The Anonymous Widower 